Combined grave marker and flower holder



Oct. 29, 1957 N. P. WRIGHT COMBINED GRAVE MARKER AND FLOWER HOLDER Filed Nov. 18, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR rfl eZsMfi/(rzyfiz.

ALITORNEY Oct. 29, 1957 N. P. WRIGHT con/13mm) GRAVE MARKER AND FLOWER HOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 18. 1954 iNVENTOR MKSQ/ZP Wz'yjf ATTORNEY United States Patent COMBINED GRAVE MARKER AND FLOWER HOLDER Nelson Porter Wright, Barre, Vt., assignor to Rock of Ages Corporation, Barre, Vt., a corporation of Vermont Application November 18, 1954, Serial No. 469,766

2 Claims. (Cl. 47-41) This invention relates to a combined grave marker and flower holder.

The invention more particularly relates to a granite grave marking slab or a monument base wherein such slab or base is provided with the usual inscription or epitaph and is further provided with means for removably supporting a flower vase whereby the prevalent practice of sinking vases into the ground or permanently embedding same in concrete, both of which present various objections, is wholly overcome.

A primary object of this invention is to provide a granite block or slab having an inscription or epitaph bearing area thereon and having a bore therethrough for the removable reception of a flower vase.

A further object of the invention is to provide a grave marking slab which is provided with a bore for the reception of axially aligned and relatively axially movable inner and outer cylindrical members and an intervening disk, each of which is provided with a marginal flange, and wherein the slab is counterbored in concentric relation to said bore for disposition of said flanges below the surface of said slab through which said counterbore opens.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the course of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. l is a fragmental top plan view showing a portion of a granite slab and the upper end of the flower holding means with the vase in an inverted inoperative position.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view as observed in the plane of line 2-2 on Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a broken view partly in vertical section and partly in elevation and wherein the flower vase is in elevated operative position.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view on a reduced scale of the vase receiving cylinder.

Fig. 5 is a view on a reduced scale, corresponding to Fig. 3 but wherein the vase is in lowered operative position.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view as observed in the plane of line 6-6 on Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a top plan View of a portion of the granite slab with the bore and counterbore therein.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the marking slab and wherein the vase is in the inoperative position of Fig. 2.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 but wherein the vase is in the position of Fig. 3.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, 10 designates a granite block or slab of such form as are now in general use as grave markers and on which an inscription or epitaph is provided as is indicated in Figs. 8 and 9. The slab 10 not only functions as a grave marker but same also provides for the retention of flower holding means 11.

For this purpose, the block or slab 10 is provided with a bore 12 whose axis is normal to the upper face of the slab if same be laid flat. The slab is further provided with a counterbore 13 which is co-axial with bore 12 and which opens through the upper surface of the slab. The counterbore provides a circumferential pocket 13* for a purpose later to appear.

The flower holding means comprises a cylindrical housing 14, a cylindrical vase 15, a flanged ring 16, and a clamping band 17.

The cylindrical housing 14 includes a side wall 18, a bottom inwardly directed flange 19 and a top outwardly directed flange 20 whose perimeter is rolled in the provision of a downwardly directed bead 21.

The cylindrical housing 14 is removably disposed within the bore 12, the wall 13 having an outer diameter such that it will freely slide through the bore 12.

In assembly of this housing, the lower flanged end 19 is entered into the upper end of bore 12 and the housing is moved axially until the bead 21 engages the bottom wall of the pocket 13 which is provided by the counterbore 13. The clamping band 17 which is of usual construction and which is indicated downwardly displaced in Fig. 4, is of course separate from the cylindrical housing when same is being positioned within the bore 12.

The band 17 in its retracted position is then passed upwardly over the lower end of the housing to a position wherein the upper edge thereof firmly engages the lower surface of the slab 10 and upon tightening the band the housing 14 will be firmly retained within the bore 12 and held against axial movement therein by the flange 20 and the band 17.

The cylindrical flower vase 15 includes a side wall 22, a bead 23 encircling the open end of the vase, a closed end 24 which is domed inwardly, an outwardly directed flange 25 and an axially extending knob 26 which is wholly confined within the domed portion 24.

The ring 16 includes a circular plane body portion 27 and a cylindrical peripheral flange 28, and the opening 29 in the ring freely receives the cylindrical wall 22 of the vase 15.

The ring 16 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced recesses 30 (Fig. 6) which open into the center thereof and the wall 22 of the vase 15 is provided with a like plurality of projections 31 which are of the same circumferential spacing as the recesses 30 whereby upon alignment of the recesses and the projections the latter pass through the former for a purpose later to appear.

While the cylindrical housing 14 is removably supported within the bore 12 in the slab 10, same remains in position with any disposition of the vase as will now be described.

As is indicated in Figs. 1, 2 and 8, the vase is in retracted inoperative position. In this position, the ring 16 rests upon the housing flange 20 with the flange 28 encircling the bead 21 and with the flange directed downwardly with the free edge thereof resting on the bottom wall of the pocket 13 The closed end 24 of the vase 15 is disposed upwardly with flange 25 resting on ring 16 and with the knob 26 accessible for lifting the vase. It is to be observed that the pocket 13 is of suflicient depth to receive the flange 20, the ring 16 and the flange 25 whereby in the closed position of the vase there are no projections above the plane of the upper face of the slab 10.

When it is desired to use the vase, the knob 26 is grasped and the vase 15 is lifted until the projections 31 engage the lower face of the ring 16, when the upward movement of the vase is continued with a lifting also of the ring.

The vase and ring are then both inverted and the closed end 24 is inserted into the housing 14 and the vase lowered until the ring engages flange 20, as is indicated in Fig. 3, and since the projections 31 are above the ring V upwardly.

the vase will be retained in its elevated operative position of Fig. 3.

In this position the in Fig. 9, the vase maybe in a lowered operative position as indicatedtin Fig. 5, which is readily eflectedtby relatively rotating the vase '15 andlring 16 until the recesses 39 and projections 31 align whereupon the vase will fall unti the bead-;23 engages the ring 16. V

ln Figs. 8 and 9 is illustrated diflerentadaptations'of the flower vase. As'indicated in Fig. 8, the slab 10 is provided with the bore 12 adjacent the lower edge thereof, while, as indicated in Fig. 9, the bore is provided adjacent the upper edge of the slab. The vasemay, of course, be disposed in other positions on the slab.

V The principal advantages of the invention are The mounting of the vase structure directly in the marking slab considerably reduces the hazard to mowing or other attention to graves. t V

The support for the vase is such thatthe vase is rigidly supported and there is little likelihood of it being blown or knocked over, and finally, the marker is substantially enhanced with a bouquet draping directly, over same.

While i have disclosed my invention in accordance with a single specific structural embodiment thereof, such is to be considered as illustrative only, and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being defined in the sub-joined claims. 7

What I claim and desire, to secure by U. S. Letters Patent isz' V l. A combined grave marker and flower holding structure comprising a block having an epitaph area thereon, said block being provided with a bore and a counterbore in encircling relation to the'bore and opening through the upper face of the block, a cylindrical housing of uniform diameter whose outer side wall is loosely enring flange 28 will be directed,

operating with said housing and said vase for holding the vase in elevated operative position with its open end upward and for permitting the vase to be completely concealed within the housing with its closed end disposed, within said counterbore, a clamping band encirchng said housing and engaging the lower face of said block and which in association with said flange preventsaxlal move- 1 ment'of the housing within said bore, said means cornprising a' ring normally loosely seated on said flange, said vase having its outer side wall slidably engaged with the inner edge of said ring, said ring being provided with circuinferentially spaced recesses opening through its in-. nor edge, and said side wall of the vase being provided with circumferentially spaced projections alignable and dis-alignable with said recesses upon relativetrotation of the ring and vase for disposition of the ring on one or the other side of said projections for the purpose set forth.

2. The structure according to claim 1, wherein, said ring is provided with a' marginal, cylindrical flange, the said flange being directed downwardly and encircling the perimeter of said housing flange in the inverted closed a position of the vase, while in the upright open position of the vase said ring flange projects upwardly.

' Great Britain Jan. 19, 1915 

